EPA proposes gutting rules for handling toxic coal ash, a move that threatens groundwater
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration proposed rolling back Biden-era coal ash disposal regulations, easing groundwater monitoring and cleanup requirements, and allowing more flexible reuse of coal ash in materials like cement and structural fill.
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the proposal as supporting energy dominance and regulatory flexibility, while opponents warn it could increase risks of groundwater contamination by allowing exemptions from national standards.
- The original regulations were tightened after major coal ash spills in 2008 and 2014, with Biden's EPA eliminating exemptions for older sites and requiring thorough cleanups to protect public health and the environment.
- Industry groups praised the proposed changes for reducing regulatory burdens and costs, arguing that stringent rules have prematurely pushed coal plants toward retirement and increased expenses for consumers.
- Environmental advocates criticized the rollback as a dangerous weakening of protections against toxic pollution, part of a broader Trump administration effort to support coal power at the expense of health and environmental safeguards.
